Electric gas-igniting device.



No. 705,|H. Patented luly 22, |902.

, J. A. MOSHEB.

ELECTRIC GAS IGNITING DEVICE.

(Application led July 23, 1901.)

(llo Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

JOHN A. MOSHER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE ADAMS n WESTLAKE COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

ELECTRIC GAS-IGNITING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 705,111, dated July 22, 1902.

Application filed July 23,1901. Serial No. 69,458. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN A. MosHEE, a citi- Zen of the United States, and a resident of Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois,

have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric GasIgniting Devices, of which the following is a specification, and which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof.

This invention relates to improvements in electric gas-igniting devices, and has particular reference to that type in which a spark is induced at the burner-tip by the manipulation of the gas key or cock in turning on the gas.

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, particularly designated in the claims, and shown in the accompanying drawings, in Which- Figure 1 illustrates a gas lamp or chandelier, showing the adaptation ol" the igniter thereto. Fig. 2 shows a gas-burner tip with the stationary electrodes secured in place. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the gas-cock employed e 5 in the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 1, together with the contact-plate and the wiper for making and breaking or interrupting the electric current; and Figs. 4 and 5 relate to details of the contact-plate and the wiper.

In the drawings I have shown the application of the igniter to a chandelier or gaslamp, indicating the branches or arms thereof, 11 the smoke-lines, 12 the base, and 13 the tube through which the gas-supply 35 pipe passes to the branches 10, the burnerglobes being shown at 14. A separate igniter,

including the electrical connections therefor,

is employed with each burner; but as the two devices shown in the drawings are in all 4o respects the same only one need be described. Disposed in such relation to the burner-tip that a spark is thrown across or in the path of a current of gas issuing from the orifice or orifices thereof are stationary electrodes 15 45 and 10. These are made of platinum or other suitable conducting material and may be secured or supported in any convenient manner. In the arrangement illustrated in the drawings the point 15 is shown as projecting 5o from an arm 1S of a band 19, clamped about the burnertube 17 and the electrode 16 is formed on a band 20, fastened around one of the diverging arms of the acetylene-gas-burning tip 17, a screw 2l being provided for clamping the same thereto.

Located adjacent to the cock 22 of the branch 10 and secured to but insulated from the latter is a contact-piece 23. This may be in the form of a resilient curved plate or strip, arranged concentrically with the gascock 22, as shown, and secured through insulating-block 25 to the branch 10 by screws 2l. The free end of the contact-plate eX- tends or is bent inwardly, or it may be provided with a projection or ange 26, as illustrated in Fig. 3, in the path of a wiper or brush 27, so as to have contact therewith when the gas-key is turned to open the cock 22. The wiper 27 preferably projects from an arm 2S of an apertured disk 29, which is secured by a nut 30 on the stem 31 ofthe cock 22. To facilitate the passage of the wiper 27 past or over the end of the plate 23 or the projection or flange 26 thereof, the wiper may be bent at a slight angle upwardly toward the contact-plate, as seen in Figs. 3 and 5.

In order to prevent the sparking of the device when the key is being turned to shut off the supply of gas, the end of the plate 23 or its projection or flange 26 has secured to its under face an insulating strip or block 33, which is beveled at the edge toward the wiper 27 when the cock 22 is open, as seen in Fig. 3, the dotted lines showing the position of the wiper when the cock is closed. It will be readily understood that by reason of the construction and the resiliency of the plate 23 the wiperin its reverse movement will engage the beveled strip 33, lifting the plate 23 upwardly as it slides under the same, and thereby avoiding actual contact therewith.

In Fig. 1 I have shown a system of wiring which may be employed with the igniter. The primary circuit ct leads from the battery l) through the primary coil c of a transformer, having a condenser CZ in parallel therewith, and thence by a wire e to the contact-plate 23, to which it is connected by a binding-post 34. Then the circuit is closed through the wiper 27 and contact-plate 23, the current returns through the ground-circuit in the lampframe to the battery. The induced or secondary circuit leads from the secondary coil g of the transformer through the wire f to the electrode 16, thence across to the electrode l5, and returning by the ground-circuit, which is the lamp, to the secondary coil. The connecting-Wires may be concealed within the frame or tubing of the lamp or` chandelier and the transformer and condenser located in the lamp base or support or in any other suitable place.

When the gas-cock key is turned on, the wiper 27 is moved over the projection or flange 26 of the yielding contact-plate 23, thereby closing the circuit, which is immediately broken or interrupted and a spark induced at the electrodes l5 16 as the wiper slides off the projection, igniting the gas. ln shutting off the gas at the cock the Wiper strikes the insulating-block 35 on the under face of the projection of the resilient contact-plate 23, lifting and sliding past the same without sparking. This construction is designed to permit of the gas being shut off without creating a spark to prevent an explosion in case the gas should be accidentally extinguished when the cock is open, in which event the globe or other flame-chamber would become charged with gas and which should be allowed to escape before the gas is ignited.

It is to be observed that the construction of the device may be greatly varied, and it is not my intention to limit myself to mechanical details, provided such means are employed as to enable the invention to be carried out.

l claim as my inventioni. ln an electric gas-igniter, in combination, a pair of stationary electrodes, a contactpiece, a gas-cock, and a wiper moved by the cook for making and breaking an electric circuit with the contact-piece and inducing a spark at the electrodes, the engaging face of the Wiper being beveled in order to facilitate its passage across the contact-plate.

2. In an electric gas-igniter, in combination, a pair of stationary electrodes, a contact-plate, a gas-cock, a wiper secured to and moved with the cock for making and breaking an electric circuit with the contact-plate and inducing a spark at the electrodes, and means for preventing the sparking of the ignter when the gas is being turned off.

3. In an electric gas-igniter, in combination, a burner-tip, a pair of stationary electrodes located adjacent to the gas-orifice of the burner-tip, a gas-cock, a curved contactplate located in proximity to the cock and concentrically thereto, a Wiper carried by the cock for making and breaking an electric circuit with the contact-plate and inducing a spark at the electrodes, and means for preventing` the sparking of the igniter when the gas is being turned off.

fi. In an electric gas-igniter, in combination, a burner-tip, a pair of stationary electrodes located adjacent to the gas-oriiice of the burner-tip, a gas-cock, an insulated resilient contact-plate, a wiper carried by the cock, a projection of the contact-plate extending inwardly toward the cock and in the path of the wiper for making and breaking therewith an electric circuit and inducing a spark at the electrodes, and an insulating strip or block secured to the under face of the projection of the contact-plate against which the Wiper is moved when the gas is being turned olf.

5. In an electric gas-igniter, in combination, a pair of stationary electrodes, a contact-piece, a gas-cock, awiper moved with the cock for making and breaking an electric circuit with the contact-piece and inducing a spark at the electrodes, and an insulating strip or block secured tc the contact-piece and disposed in the path of the wiper and with which the wiper engages in closing the cock.

i5. In an electric gas-igniter, in combination, a pair of stationary electrodes, a contact-plate, a gas-cock, a wiper actuated by the cock, a projection of the contact-plate in the path of the wiper for making and breaking therewith an electric circuit and inducing a spark at the electrodes, and aninsulating strip or block secured to the under face of the projection of the contact-plate with which the wiper engages in closing the cock.

7. In an electric gas-igniter, in combination, a gas-burner, means located at the burner for igniting gas issuing therefrom, a contact-plate, a gas-cock, a wiper moved with the cock for making and breaking an electric circuit with the contact-plate, and an insulating-block secured to the contact-plate and disposed in the path of the Wiper and with which the Wiper solely engages in closing the cock.

S. In an electric gas-igniter, in combination, a gas-cock, an electric circuit, anda circuit-breaker actuated by the cock and comprising a movable member having faces oblique to its path and a resilient member having insulating material upon one face, and lying across the path of the movable member.

9. In an electric gas-igniter, in combination, a gas-cock, an electric circuit, a-nd a circuit-breaker comprising two members, one being carried by the cock and the other being fixed and crossing the path ol' the movable member, one of said members being oblique to the path of the movable member, one of said members being resilient, and one of said members having one of its contact-faces formed of non-conductive material.

JOHN A. MOS HER,

Witnesses:

ARTHUR B. SEIBoLD, E. M. KLATCHER.

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